• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2003.10b
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• pp.238.1-238.1
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• 2003

Hepatic stellate cells (HSC) and the derived myofibroblasts are known to play a central role in liver fibrogenesis. Rhus verniciflua Strokes (RVS) has traditionally been used in Korea herbal medicine for a stomachic tonic. In this study, we observed the effect of RVS acetone extract (Ra) and its five major components on the proliferation, the collagen synthesis, and hepatic fibrosis related proteins mRNA levels in HSC-T6 cells which is a fully activated rat hepatic stellate cell line. Ra inhibited the proliferation and decreased the content of collagen in the HSC-T6 cells. (omitted)

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.375-384
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• 2008

This study was performed to establish the discrimination of the corpus albicans that were formed after normal parturition and abortion in Holstein, The corpus albicans were obtained from 504 cows and 506 heifers slaughtered in the Agricultural Cooperative's Livestock Products Joint Market of Seoul City from March 2007 to October 2007. The difference in a gross examination (morphology, fibrogenesis, deposit state, color, and size) among the fixtures that exist in their ovaries was investigated. All of the cows had corpus albicans in their ovaries: 423 cows (83.9%) had less than three corpus albicans, 81 (16.1%) had more than four. In the heifers, however, 463 (91.05%) had no corpus albicans, 39 (7.7%) had one, and four (0.8%) had more than two. In the types of corpus albicans 73.2% of the cows had oval-type, 14.4% had circular-shaped, 12.4% had irregular-type. In the aborted heifers, however, oval-type appeared in 88.6% and circular-shaped appeared in 11.4%, and no irregular-type was found. There was no significant difference in the fibrogenesis and size of corpus albicans between cows and aborted heifers. However, slight difference in the color of the corpus albicans was observed between two types. In conclusion, it is not easy to discriminate by gross examination of ovary between cows and aborted heifers in the slaughter house.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.314-330
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• 2010

Objective : This study was performed to investigate the anti-fibrogenic effect and changes of inflammation-related genes by YBR I and YBR II (YBR I: Arteisiae Capillaris Herba, Atractylodis Rhizoma Alba, Hoelen/ YBR II: YBR I +Sanguisorbae Radix, Biotae Cacumen, Cirsii Japonici Herba) on HSC(hepatic stellate cells)-T6 and TAA-induced rat liver tissue. Materials and Methods : HSC-T6 were treated with various concentrations of distilled-water extract YBR I and YBR II extract for 24, 48 and 72 hours. After the treatment, cell viability, proliferation, procollagen levels and IL-6 levels were measured by using MTT Assay, BrdU Assay, Procollagen Type 1 C-peptide EIA kit, and Murine IL-6 ELISA Development kit. Rat liver fibrosis was induced by intraperitoneal TAA injection of 150mg/kg 3 times a week for 6 weeks. After the treatment, body weight, liver & spleen weights, liver function test, complete blood cell count and change of portal pressure were studied. In addition, gene expressions of ASMA, IL-6, MMP-2, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2, all of which are known to be associated with liver fibrosis, were analyzed by using Real-Time PCR. After YBR I and YBR IItreatment, percentages of collagen in TAA-induced rat liver tissue were measured. Results : The viability and proliferation of the HSC-T6 decreased as the concentration increased. The production of procollagen decreased as the concentration increased. The production of IL-6 was little influenced by YBR I and YBR II. There was no difference in rat body weight between the TAA-only group and the YBR groups. Compared with rat liver weight of TAA-only group, that of the YBR groups increased. In the YBR I group, the serum level of AST elevated by TAA injection significantly decreased and in the YBR I and II group, the serum level of ALP and ALT elevated by TAA injection decreased. In the YBR I group, white blood cell count elevated by TAA injection decreased but platelets increased. In the YBR I group, the portal pressure elevated by TAA injection significantly decreased. Decreases in the gene expression of ASMA and MMP-2 were observed in the YBR I group. The gene expression of IL-6 was little influenced by YBR I and YBR II -treated groups. In the histological finding, TAA injections caused severe fibrosis, but YBR I and YBR II treatment significantly reduced the amounts of hepatic collagens. Conclusions : These results suggest that YBR I and II have inhibitory effects on the hepatic fibrogenesis.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.504-518
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• 2011

Objectives : This study was performed to investigate the anti-fibrogenic effect of greater celandine on cultured rat hepatic stellate cells. Materials and Methods : Hepatic stellate cells (HSC-T6) were treated with various concentrations of greater celandine extract for 24, 48, and 72 hours. The extraction was done with distilled water. After the treatment, cell viability, proliferation, mRNA of the ${\alpha}SMA$, TIMP-1, TIMP-2, collagen I ${\alpha}$ 1, MMP-2, IL-6, TGF-${\beta}1$, PDGFr-${\beta}1$, Bcl-2, Bax, Bcl-xl, caspase-3, caspase-9 and the activities of SOD and catalase were measured by using MTT assay, BrdU assay, real-time PCR, superoxide dismutase assay and catalase assay. Results : The viability, proliferation, mRNA expression and synthesis of collagen of the hepatic stellate cells were inhibited as the concentration increased, which indicates the herb has an inhibitory effect on fibrogenesis of the liver by regulating the fibrosis associated genes in transcription. Conclusions : These results suggest that greater celandine would be beneficial in the treatment of fibrotic patients as well as for patients with chronic hepatitis.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.124-132
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• 2013

In this study, novel peptides (NIPP-1, NIPP-2) derived from Navicula incerta (microalgae) protein hydrolysate were explored for their inhibitory effects on collagen release in hepatic fibrosis with the investigation of its underlying mechanism of action. TGF-${\beta}1$ activated fibrosis in LX-2 cells was examined in the presence or absence of purified peptides NIPP-1 and NIPP-2. Besides the mechanisms of liver cell injury, protective effects of NIPP-1 and NIPP-2 were studied to show the protective mechanism against TGF-${\beta}1$ stimulated fibrogenesis. Our results showed that the core protein of NIPP-1 peptide prevented fibril formation of type I collagen, elevated the MMP level and inhibited TIMP production in a dose-dependent manner. The treatment of NIPP-1 and NIPP-2 on TGF-${\beta}1$ induced LX-2 cells alleviated hepatic fibrosis. Moreover, ${\alpha}$-SMA, TIMPs, collagen and PDGF in the NIPP-1 treated groups were significantly decreased. Therefore, it could be suggested that NIPP-1 has potential to be used in anti-fibrosis treatment.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.41-59
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• 2006

Chronic liver diseases and hepatic cancer have been reported as 10% of cause of death in Koreans. Regardless of various causes, chronic liver disease accompanies commonly hepatic fibrosis. But still the mechanism of hepatic fibrosis remains poorly understood. Using the dimethylnitrosamine(DMN)-induced hepatic fibrosis rat model, We performed to evaluate the possible therapeutic effect of RIP(extracts of Phellodendron amurense and Patrinia scabiosaefolia) and to investigate the changes in referential connective tissue proteins($TGF-{\beta}_1$, ${\alpha}$-smooth muscle actin, and vimentin) as a marker of fibrogenesis. For these purposes, liver tissues were stained with H & E, and Azan staining for estimation of developing fibrosis. In the DMN-treated rat liver tissue, fibrosis were developed forming incomplete septal fibrosis. Whereas, in the RIP-treated rat liver tissues, the fibrosis were decreased recovering to normal morphology. The expressions of $TGF-{\beta}_1$, ${\alpha}$-smooth muscle actin($\alpha-SMA$), and vimetin were increased in the DMN-treated rat liver tissues, but decreased in the various areas of RIP-treated rat liver tissues. According to these results, RIP could be a possible therapeutic agent to reduce hepatic fibrosis, and the $TGF-{\beta}_1$, ${\alpha}$-SMA, and vimentin could be possible indicative markers of hepatic fibrosis development and recovery.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.459-466
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• 2019

Dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP)-4 inhibitors, or gliptins, are a class of oral hypoglycemic drugs that have been widely used as a second-line treatment for type 2 diabetes. Gliptins, which were introduced for clinical use a decade ago, have been shown to be beneficial against nonalcoholic fatty liver disease/nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in animals and humans. Cenicriviroc (CVC), a dual antagonist of C-C chemokine receptor type 2 and 5, is currently under investigation against NASH and fibrosis. It was previously discovered that evogliptin (EVO) reduces hepatic steatosis in diet-induced obese animals but the effectiveness of EVO on NASH remains unexplored. Here, we compared the effectiveness of EVO and CVC against NASH and fibrosis in mice fed a high-fat and high-fructose diet (HFHF). Biochemical and histological analyses showed that mice fed a HFHF for 20 weeks developed severe hepatic steatosis and inflammation with mild fibrosis. Administration of EVO (0.2% wt/wt) for the last 8 weeks of HFHF feeding significantly reduced hepatic triglyceride accumulation, inflammation, and fibrosis as well as restored insulin sensitivity, as evidenced by lowered plasma insulin levels and the improvement in insulin tolerance test curves. Treatment of mice with CVC (0.1% wt/wt) inhibited hepatic inflammation and fibrogenesis with similar efficacy to that of EVO, without affecting hepatic steatosis. CVC treatment also reduced plasma insulin concentrations, despite no improvement in insulin tolerance. In conclusion, EVO administration efficiently ameliorated the development of NASH and fibrosis in HFHF-fed mice, corroborating its therapeutic potential.

• BMB Reports
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• v.56 no.7
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• pp.374-384
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• 2023

Fibrosis is a pathological condition that is characterized by an abnormal buildup of extracellular matrix (ECM) components, such as collagen, in tissues. This condition affects various organs of the body, including the liver and kidney. Early diagnosis and treatment of fibrosis are crucial, as it is a progressive and irreversible process in both organs. While there are certain similarities in the fibrosis process between the liver and kidney, there are also significant differences that must be identified to determine molecular diagnostic markers and potential therapeutic targets. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), a class of RNA molecules that do not code for proteins, are increasingly recognized as playing significant roles in gene expression regulation. Emerging evidence suggests that specific lncRNAs are involved in fibrosis development and progression by modulating signaling pathways, such as the TGF-β/Smad pathway and the β-catenin pathway. Thus, identifying the precise lncRNAs involved in fibrosis could lead to novel therapeutic approaches for fibrotic diseases. In this review, we summarize lncRNAs related to fibrosis in the liver and kidney, and propose their potential as therapeutic targets based on their functions.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.306-316
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• 2009

Objectives : This study was performed to investigate the anti-fibrogenic effect of Curcumae Longae Radix on human hepatic stellate cells. Materials and Methods: Hepatic stellate cells (LX-2) were treated with various concentrations of Curcumae Longae Radix extract for 24, 48, and 72 hours. It was extracted with distilled water. After the treatment, cell viability, proliferation, cell cycle analysis, procollagen levels and the mRNA of the ASMA, TIMPl, TIMP2, MMP2, collagen type la, PDGF-receptor-beta and TGF-beta were measured by using MTT assay, BrdU assay, RT-PCR, and procollagen type 1 C-peptide EIA kit. Results : The viability of HSCs decreased in the 48 hours group, and proliferation of HSCs decreased as the concentration increased. In the cell cycle analysis, Curcumae Longae Radix decreased the ratio of M phase, and increased the ratio of apoptosis, G0/G1 and S phase. In the RT-PCR, the mRNA expression of the collagen type la and ASMA decreased with the Curcumae Longae Radix treatment. The production of procollagen by the HSCs was decreased by the treatment of Curcumae Longae Radix with high dose. Conclusion : These results suggest that Curcumae Longae Radix is helpful in the treatment of liver fibrosis as well as liver cirrhosis.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.527-536
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• 2020

Liver fibrosis constitutes a significant health problem worldwide due to its rapidly increasing prevalence and the absence of specific and effective treatments. Growing evidence suggests that apoptosis-signal regulating kinase 1 (ASK1) is activated in oxidative stress, which causes hepatic inflammation and apoptosis, leading to liver fibrogenesis through a mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) downstream signals. In this study, we investigated whether selonsertib, a selective inhibitor of ASK1, shows therapeutic efficacy for liver fibrosis, and elucidated its mechanism of action in vivo and in vitro. As a result, selonsertib strongly suppressed the growth and proliferation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and induced apoptosis by increasing Annexin V and TUNEL-positive cells. We also observed that selonsertib inhibited the ASK1/MAPK pathway, including p38 and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) in HSCs. Interestingly, dimethylnitrosamine (DMN)-induced liver fibrosis was significantly alleviated by selonsertib treatment in rats. Furthermore, selonsertib reduced collagen deposition and the expression of extracellular components such as α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), fibronectin, and collagen type I in vitro and in vivo. Taken together, selonsertib suppressed fibrotic response such as HSC proliferation and extracellular matrix components by blocking the ASK1/MAPK pathway. Therefore, we suggest that selonsertib may be an effective therapeutic drug for ameliorating liver fibrosis.